Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that extending Steven Gerrard’s
contract could be his most significant deal of the summer.

Rodgers was determined to prolong his captain’s playing association with Anfield and has ensured that he will remain until at least 2015. “I’ve talked throughout pre-season about wanting to bring other players into the group, but this was one of - if not the - most important signings for us,” Rodgers said.

“He’s an icon here at the football club for players and supporters. Also, importantly, his contribution at this moment in time is very much valued by myself and the staff.

“I think he’s still got a good few years left yet. His level of performance last year was outstanding. He’s been a great support for me coming into such a club, a brilliant captain, he’s got great values and the leadership he provides is second to none.”

Having made it clear he intends to end his career at one club, Gerrard hopes the latest period of rebuilding at Liverpool will be successful. “It lets me know the club thinks an awful lot of me and wants me here,” Gerrard said. “There was a year left on my contract which was quite unusual - I think it was the first time I’ve got that far down into a contract. I’m glad it’s all done so I can just focus on playing as well as I can for the next two years.

“People talk about my loyalty to the football club because I’ve been here all the way through, but the club have been loyal to me all the way throughout my career and always rewarded me at the right times with deals. I won’t lie to you, I’m really excited at the moment. I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief in my team-mates and in the coaches. That’s the reason why I feel as if we can move forward together and get success back soon.

“Every fan out there, and the players are no different - we want to see a few more faces to strengthen the team and squad even more.”

Meanwhile Ayre has reaffirmed the club’s determination to convince Luis Suárez that he can achieve his ambitions at Anfield.

Ayre confirmed a formal offer for Suárez from Arsenal was rejected, and said no further bids were welcome.

“I’ve heard him say it would be great to have an opportunity to play for Arsenal and likewise Real Madrid but he certainly hasn’t called me up and said he wants to leave,” Ayre said in an interview with Bloomberg.com.

“We had an offer which is fairly public from Arsenal. We said no to that offer, and as far as we’re concerned he turns up for training when he’s due back, and we’ll move forward on that basis. This is an ambitious young player, he’s talked in the media about wanting to play in the Champions League. It’s our job to convince Luis that this is the right place to achieve those things.”

Ayre also believes Suárez’s relationship with Liverpool fans can be repaired swiftly. “I don’t think anyone will be against him at this point. He only needs to do what he did last season and everyone will feel he’s in the right place and he should carry on getting the support that he deserves and gets from Liverpool. We’d love to see Luis put on a Liverpool shirt for this season and beyond, and we hope that once he gets back things will settle down.”

Raheem Sterling is determined to re-establish himself as a regular starter and banish any thoughts of a loan move to gather more experience. “I’m not really looking to go out on loan,” he said.

“No one’s mentioned anything like that to me so at this moment in time so I’m just looking forward to going away with the first team on pre-season and trying to reclaim a place.

“It was a good start for me [last season]. The manager gave me the chance to go out on the pitch and show what I can do but then my injury started kicking in and my performances weren’t the best. It was obviously taking a toll on me so the manager took me out to protect me and also to get me ready for the new season.”

The teenager said he would not feel he has fully made it at Anfield until he had a permanent fixture in the Premier League. “Definitely not. No. There’s still a lot of work to be done which I thought I should have done last season only for my injury to get in the way.”